Cranking device for automobiles.



H; F. ERFMAN. CBANKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION-FILED JULY 2, I915.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

61 mum;

APH 00.. WASH] H F. EBFMAN. CRANKI'NG DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1915- Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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HE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPR! c w STATES PATE QBAD T KING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. ERFMAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cranking Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

vision of a structure wherein a This invention relates to cranking devices for automobiles and has for its primary object the provision of a structure wherein upon rotation of one of the clutch elements an angularly disposed spring will be i put under tension for throwing the clutch element back into normal position when manually thrown in an abnormal position.

Another object of the invention is the proflexible cable for rotating one of the clutch elements is so arranged as to work in opposition to an angularly disposed spring when the device is being actuated.

A further object of the invention is to rovide manually controlled rigid means for initially sliding the element and flexible means for subsequently rotating the element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide rigid means for moving one element of the cranking device and resilient means for moving another element thereof.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the front portion of the chassis. Fig. 2 is a longitu dinal section through the device. Fig. 3 is a cross section showing the arrangement of the flexible element and coil springs when the cranking device is in inoperative position. Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the device in an operative position. Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of my device. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates thedrive shaft of the automobile and as shown has its axis in alinement with the axis of a cranking shaft 2. Rigidly se cured to that extremity of the cranking shaft adjacent the drive shaft is a sleeve 3 having its extremity formed with ratchet teeth A and 5, the former arranged to co- S pecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

1915. Serial No. 37,759.

operate with the teeth 6 formed onthe drive shaft. Arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth 5 is an annular series of ratchet teeth 7 formed upon the rear face of a sheave wheel 8, the latter being loosely mounted upon the crank haft and held against longitudinal movement in one di rection by means of the collar 9. The sheave wheel is provided with a groove 10 in which seats the end portion of a flexible cable 11 secured to the sheave wheel as indicated at 12. This cable 11 passes around a pulley 13 from whence it extends to the dash board 1 1 of the vehicle. At the dash board 1 1, the cable is provided with a handle 15, which the operator may grip for giving the cable a longitudinal movement. Arranged parallel to a portion of the length of the cable is a coil spring 16 having one extremity adjustably mounted in the chassis through the medium of the bolt 17 and its extremity secured to the bottom wall of the groove as indicated at 18. From this arrangement, it will be seen that upon force being applied to the cable 11 the sheave wheel will. be retated in opposition to the tension of the spring 16. For manually sliding the sleeve 3 and the sheave wheel 8, 1 provide a lever 19 having a forked extremity 20 engaging the cut away portion 21 of the sleeve. This lever is pivotally mounted upon the chassis as indicated at 22 so as to swing in a horizontal plane. For giving horizontal movement to the lever 19, I have shown a horizontally arranged link 23 having one extremity pivotally connected to the lever 19 and its other extremity pivotally connected to a foot lever 24.

In practice, I have found it an advantage to slide the sleeve 3 into engagement with the teeth of the drive shaft of the engine subsequent to forcing the teeth of the sheave wheel into engagement with the associated teeth of the sleeve 3, and for accomplishing this end, I secure to the lever 19 a leaf spring 25 having a bifurcated end which straddles the boss 26 of the sheave wheel and bears upon one face thereof as indicated at 27 in Fig. 2. Upon pressure being exerted upon the foot lever 24, the link 23 will be given a sliding movement that in turn swings the lever 19 upon its pivot 22. As there is a certain amount of play between the forked extremity of the lever 19 and the cut away portion of the sleeve 3, the leaf spring 25 will force the teeth of the sheave wheel into engagement with the associated teeth of the sleeve but the forked end of the lever is able to slide the sleeve upon the crank shaft.

-In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, I have substituted a pair of sheave wheels 27 in place of a single sheave wheel so as to accommodate a pair of coil springs 28 that connect to the opposite sides of the chassis.

Having described my invention what is claimed is:

1. A cranking device for automobiles comprising in combination a cranking shaft, a sleeve rigidly secured to said cranking shaft and having its opposite extremity provided with ratchet teeth, means on said drive shaft for cooperating with the ratchet teeth formed on one extremity of said sleeve, a sheave wheel loosely mounted on said cranking shaft, teeth formed on said sheave wheel and adapted to coiiperate with the ratchet teeth of the remaining extremity of said sleeve, means for normally spacing the teeth of said sheave wheel from the teeth of said sleeve, spring secured at one end to said sheave wheel and its other extremity to the frame of the automobile, means for tensioning said spring and link mechanism for shifting the teeth of said sleeve into engagement with the sheave wheel and said first means.

cranking device for automobiles comprising in combination a drive shaft having one end formed with ratchet teeth, a cranking shaft, a sleeve rigidly secured to said cranking shaft and having each of its extremities formed. with a set of ratchet teeth, the teeth of one extremity cooperating a normally untensioned coil with the ratchet teeth of said drive shaft, a Wheel formed with ratchet teeth cooperating with the ratchet teeth of the remaining extremity of saidsleeve, means for rotating said wheel and means for initially throwing the teeth of said sheave wheel into engagement with the teeth of one extremity of said sleeve and subsequently throwing the teeth of the remaining extremity of said sleeve into engagement with the teeth of said drive shaft. 7 3. A cranking device for automobiles comprising in combination a drive shaft having one end formed with ratchet teeth, a cranking shaft, a sleeve rigidly secured to said cranking shaft and having each of its extremities formed with a set of ratchet teeth, the teeth of one extremity cooperating with the ratchet teeth of said drive shaft, a wheel formed with ratchet teeth cooperating with the ratchet teeth of the remaining extremity of said sleeve, means for circling said Wheel and means for initially drawing the teeth of said sheave wheel into engagement with the teeth of one extremity of said sleeve and subsequently drawing the teeth of the remaining extremity of said sleeve into engagement with the teeth of said drive shaft, said last mentioned means including a spring continuously bearing against said wheel and a rod engaging a portion of said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. ERFMAN. Witnesses t E. J. KAUTZ, PERRY CLAwsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner .of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

